tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23290357.post114381993240210092..comments2016-11-05T10:18:43.078+00:00Comments on Sue's Blog... again...: Mind Maps, Migration and Meetings...Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05034153756804835865noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23290357.post-1146018597500671102006-04-26T02:29:00.000+00:002006-04-26T02:29:00.000+00:00I started using mind maps in the 70's when I first...I started using mind maps in the 70's when I first read Tony Buzan's book "use your head". They were, of course, on paper. <BR/><BR/>I was a project manager at the time and used to inherit large-scale computer projects, often at a few days' notice. The quickest way to get up to speed was to draw a mind-map of everything. They could grow to four or five foot square.<BR/><BR/>Two things really irritated me about them: 1) I couldn't move stuff around and 2) I often found myself adding information that was already on the map - eg a person's name and job details. If only the mind map would tell me it already knew something.<BR/><BR/>I vowed to 'computerise' mindmaps at the first opportunity. The problem when the PC came along, a few years later in the UK, was that I couldn't do graphics and, even if I could, the sort of mind maps I did could not be represented easily on the screen.<BR/><BR/>Add points 1) and 2) above and this led to a development stream that's been going, on and off, for the past 25 years. It's called BrainStorm.<BR/><BR/>It pre-dated both outliners and mind-mappers and still sells today. A lot of people use it in conjunction with mind-mappers. The forums, blogs and website are a useful source of information on how people use BrainStorm.<BR/><BR/>As you may have guessed, BrainStorm is textual. What you may not have guessed is that it's fast, it doesn't care about structure - you can be structured or unstructured. The amount of each piece of information is effectively unlimited. It can all be shuffled and reorganised in a variety of ways. It doesn't try to cram itself into a limited amount of screen real-estate, so it is not a presentation tool, like a mind-mapper, although it can be web published. And, lastly, if you put in something that's already there, it hyperlinks (can be switched off) to it and shares all the lower level information.<BR/><BR/>It's about horses for courses. Both mind maps and BrainStorm (and outliners) have their uses. And they can be used in collaboration. If I'm allowed to add an address, it's http://www.brainstormsw.com.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for reading. I thought people might find this useful. And, it's only £20 (around $35) with a free, anonymous, 30-day trial. It runs on Any version of Windows from 95 onwards.David Tebbutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10362748044444255059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23290357.post-1145148816501059472006-04-16T00:53:00.000+00:002006-04-16T00:53:00.000+00:00Okay, you're converting me too. The last time I p...Okay, you're converting me too. The last time I played with software in this arena was over 5 years ago (don't remember the vendor's name) and the technology wasn't nearly up-to-snuff compared to what seems to be out there now.<BR/><BR/>I downloaded MindManager yesterday and FreeMind today. Very cool software, and I like their flexibility. I'll probably sitck with FreeMind, mostly because it'll play with my Thunderbird mail client and Firefox browser, and MindManager doesn't. (There are some other features in MindManagers that I _really_ like, but integration with Firefox/Thunderbird is a big deal for university employees like myself.)<BR/><BR/>Still, THANKS for bringing mind maps back to my attention.Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935018156336017252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23290357.post-1144072637086477492006-04-03T13:57:00.000+00:002006-04-03T13:57:00.000+00:00Thanks for the map example. It seems there is no ...Thanks for the map example. It seems there is no limit to the subject matter or maps. and as your example shows, you can quickly get the point across.Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05034153756804835865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23290357.post-1144067321037003912006-04-03T12:28:00.000+00:002006-04-03T12:28:00.000+00:00Sue, welcome to blogger!I've been using MindManage...Sue, welcome to blogger!<BR/><BR/>I've been using MindManager for a while now. On Conference calls I no longer jot notes down on paper, I create a map which actually works great. I also use them to document the signature of PL/SQL stored procedures and functions. <BR/><BR/>An <A HREF="http://www.sqlquery.com/Microsoft_Access_Best_Practices.pdf" REL="nofollow">example</A> of a map I've created (I know it's MSAccess, but I think you'll get the picture).<BR/><BR/>Best regards...<A HREF="http://www.sqlquery.com" REL="nofollow">Rich</A>Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07582855103599088496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23290357.post-1144067266171292902006-04-03T12:27:00.000+00:002006-04-03T12:27:00.000+00:00Sue, welcome to blogger!I've been using MindManage...Sue, welcome to blogger!<BR/><BR/>I've been using MindManager for a while now. On Conference calls I no longer jot notes down on paper, I create a map which actually works great. I also use them to document the signature of PL/SQL stored procedures and functions. <BR/><BR/>An <A HREF="http://www.sqlquery.com/Microsoft_Access_Best_Practices.pdf" REL="nofollow">example</A> of a map I've created (I know it's MSAccess, but I think you'll get the picture).<BR/><BR/>Best regards...<A HREF="http://www.sqlquery.com" REL="nofollow">Rich</A>Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07582855103599088496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23290357.post-1143996234185389152006-04-02T16:43:00.000+00:002006-04-02T16:43:00.000+00:00MindJet has been solicating people to help test a ...MindJet has been solicating people to help test a Mac version of MindManager, so it's apparently coming.Paul Holbrookhttp://weblog.bluepenguin.usnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23290357.post-1143827874294536402006-03-31T17:57:00.000+00:002006-03-31T17:57:00.000+00:00Thanks for the feedback on SQl Developer. I'm con...Thanks for the feedback on SQl Developer. <BR/><BR/>I'm considering using a Map for my next talk...we'll how that goes.<BR/><BR/>SueSuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05034153756804835865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23290357.post-1143827407151510452006-03-31T17:50:00.000+00:002006-03-31T17:50:00.000+00:00I agree with you on using mind mapping. I have bee...I agree with you on using mind mapping. I have been using it off and on for presentations and requirement gathering. It really helps me. I have also found it great for sharing information. One of my bosses saw it, started to use it, and now if you want his attention, a mind map really helps. He easily walks the map and seems to get the point much faster. <BR/><BR/>I have been using the open source, FreeMind, found at source forge, due to price (free) and you don't need to have administor privilages to install it. If anyone saw it before version 0.8, it deserves a second look.<BR/><BR/>BTW, I have been using SQLDeveloper as my main line SQL and PL/SQL environment for months, it rocks and keeps getting better. Thanks for the product.Scott Schwabhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014003619353346507noreply@blogger.com